Mobile freight elevator



June 24, 1958 I I E. BIANCA 2,840,187

MOBILE FREIGHT ELEVATOR Filed May 26, 1955 e Sheets-Sheet 1 7 i I? *s! z\ 4 1 8 Fig.2 4?

Fig-4 Fig.5 A79 5 INVENTOR: Edua a 'BQMMA BY: "MM s. mum

June 24, 1958 E. BIANCA 2,840,187

MOBILE FREIGHT ELEVATOR Filed May 26, 1955 e Sheegs-Sheet s 3 ii LI: 4 f

IN'VENTOR: ow-o @{omco June 24, 1958 E. BIANCA 2,840,187

MOBILE FREIGHT ELEVATOR Filed May 26 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fi 1a June 24, 1958 Filed May 26, 1955 E. BIANCA MOBILE FREIGHT ELEVATOR 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Micheal 8% June 24, 1958 E. BIANCA MOBILE FREIGHT ELEVATOR 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 26, 1955 Fly. 15'

INVENTOR: a o QDGMAUL W \LAAQSIQ m mg United States Patent MOBILE FREIGHT ELEVATOR Eduardo Bianca, Herrliberg, near Zurich, Switzerland Application May 26, 1955, Serial No. 511,253

' 3 Claims. (01. 187--7) The present invention relates to an improved mobile elevator which may be used, in particular, for garages above or below the ground. Such garages comprise a plurality of car-cells or compartments in side-by-side and superposed arrangement, the cars being brought into and fetched from said compartments, in known manner, by means of an elevator disposed in front of the compartments and conventionally formed as hoist tower which is movable on rails, which extend in front of the compartment tract. In most cases, one building has been erected on each side of the rails, which building comprises cells which open towards the elevator. V

The main disadvantage of such known tower construction is the fact that it has a low stability on account of the small bottom surface and has to be made extremely heavy for reasons of strength. Furthermore, the top portion of such tower construction tends to vibrate under moving loads.

The main object of the mobile elevator disclosed by the present invention is to eliminate said disadvantages. The elevator disclosed by the present invention, therefore, is distinguished by the fact that it is supported on one side only, both on top and bottom, at least one of the points of support being situated outside of the median plane passing through the center of gravity of the elevator and extending in the direction of movement thereof, so as to give origin to a tilting moment which is taken up by the other point of support.

Three forms of the invention are shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows schematically a first embodiment in vertical section,

Fig. 2 depicts a similar section through a second em bodiment, I

Fig. 3 illustrates a similar section through a third embodiment,

Figs. 4 to 6 are diagrams illustrating thefdistribution of forces in the embodiments according to Figs. 1 to 3 respectively,

Fig. 7 shows, in the upper portion, the top roller support of the elevator for the three embodiments according to Figs. 1 to 3, and in the lower portion the bottom roller support for the two embodiments according to Figs. 2 and 3,

Fig. 8 shows a modified elevators bottom roller support for the two embodiments according to Figs. 2 and 3,

Fig. 9 shows the elevators bottom roller support for the embodiment accordingto Fig. 1, J

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but on a larger scale and including the elevator machinery,

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of Fig. 10,

Fig. 12 depicts a vertical section through a practical embodiment of an underground elevator,

Fig. 13 shows a cross-section through the underground shaft and the elevator machinery,

Fig. 14 is a top plan view of said underground shaft,

, carrying element thereof. The arrangement of the rails Fig. 15 illustrates a last embodiment in which two elevators are disposed in one and the same shaft.

In the first embodiment (Fig. 1) 1 and 2 designate two compartment fronts of a multi-story garage, between which is situated an aisle 3 in which is disposed an elevator mobile in a direction at right angles to the plane of the drawing. The elevator is of lattice-work construction 4 which extends at an angle to the bottom plane of aisle 3 from substantially the latters upper end to the bottom end thereof. Structure 4 is provided with guide rails 5 which extend in the vertical median plane of aisle 3 and which are fixed to structure 4 by means of stays 6. In rails 5 is guided an elevator cabin 7 which is vertically movable in known manner. The means for raising and lowering cabin 7 are not shown; a conventional electric motor and control means therefor may be provided for such purpose.

Structure 4 at its lower end is supported on a rail 8 through rollers 9, rail 8 extending along the entire compartment front 1; Rollers 9 are supported on rail 8 and suitably provided with flanges 10 (Fig. 8).

Another solution is illustrated in the lower portion of Fig. 7, where two rollers 11 and 12 are used, of which the former one is rotatable on a horizontal axis 13 and the latter is rotatable on a vertical axis 14, both axles being journaled in structure 4.

To the topmost portion of compartment front 2 is secured a rail 15 which extends along'the entire front and is so disposed that its median plane 15 (top portion of Fig. 7) is horizontal. On rail 15 bears rollers 16 of which only one is shown in the drawing and of which each is rotatable about a vertical axis 17, which'is' secured to the upper end of structure 4; The arrangement is such that the two points of support, i. e. the elevator portions connected to the rails 8 and 15 respectively which form a one-sided support, are situated on different sides of the plane passing through the center of gravity of the elevator and extending in the direction of movement thereof. Said plane in the embodiment shown in' Fig. 1 passes through the guide rails 5.

In such arrangement, the elevator in all cases of loading is givena clockwise tilting moment M and thus is supported on the rails 8 and 15. The elevator thus is substantially stiffened so as to eliminate vibrations and deflections. p

The entire elevator which normally is a latticed structure, is statically determined and subjected to a single constant type of loading, i. e. each single memberof the structure is subjected either to compression or tension and thus may be designed with maximum economy. Further, the entire structure is subjected to an initial stress which may be freely chosen by the position of the supporting rail with respect to the vertical through the center of gravity. Thus, a relatively high initial stress.

may be chosen, so that the vibrations occurring in operation may be correspondingly decreased or entirely suppressed. By reason of the fact that the bottom supporting rail 8 and the top supporting rail 15 always are subjected to a unidirectional load, there are no guide tolerances in this type of construction in contrast to the conventional;

construction where such tolerances are unavoidable. Consequently, the air gap between the cabin and the building may be quite substantially reduced, nearly down to zero, when providing, besides the top guide rail, further auxiliary guide rails on the same building side.

The distribution of forces is shown in Fig. 4. i The second form of invention, shown in Fig. 2, differs from the first only in that the guide means 18 form a portion of the latticed structure 19, means 18 being a 8 and 15 corresponds to that shown in Fig. 1.

- each other in an underground shaft 40.

In'the'form of invention shown in Fig. 3 (and Fig.

the latticed structure is a vertical tower20 formed with a knee 21; In this construction also, guide rail 22 is formed asca'rrying element. This? construction is shown in a larger scale inFig. 10,, in which the cabin 23 is guided in means 22. and "suspended on a rope '24 which at the othefendcarriesa counterweight .25. Rope 24 is trained over afguide roller 26, and a further rope 27 serves for raising and'lowering the cabin 23. An electric motor 28 serves for winding and unwinding the rope 27. The latticed structure is braced by means of a lower and an upper rail"29 and 30 respectively. A roller 31 is supported on rail 29, and a roller 32 is supported on rail 30. If desired, a rail 33 of which the bottom-flange includes an angle with a horizontal plane, maybe used, shown in Fig. 9. On such rail 33' is supported a roller 34 which is provided with two guide'flanges 35.

In Figs. 12 to 14 is shown a form of invention which is specially suited for underground garages, the cabin platform being raised above the highest point of the elevator so that the cabin may be loaded and unloaded through a corresponding floor opening. The elevator remains freely movable below the floor. In such arrangement, the use of an open shaft is avoided, and the respective floor area is made available for other purposes. Here again, the elevator, as in the cases described before, is supported in single-gauge manner on a rail outside of the vertical' through the center of gravity so' as to give'origin to a lateral tilting moment'which is taken up through auxiliary rails and'supporting rollers.

In the example shown in Figs. 12 to 14, a plurality of car-receiving cells 41 are arranged sideby-side and above On the bottom 42 of shaft 41 is arranged a rail 43 which extends along the entire shaft. Further lateral bearing rails 44 are arranged'on the front of one of the two cell tracts. The elevator comprises a bed plate 4S on whic,h is mounted a latticed structure 46. The latter is provided with guide rails'47for a cabin 48 which is raised and lowered by an electric motor 49 which via a gear .unit 50 drives a winding drum 51. The latter is rotatablymounted in brackets 52 fixed to bed plate, 45 and through gear wheels 53 is connected to gear unit 50.- Drum 51 serves for winding and unwinding a rope 54 to the other end of which is secured" the elevator cabin 48. Said rope end issecured to the cabin in special downwardly extending struts 54 so that cjabin 48 may be raised so far that its platform 55in the topmost position of the cabin is flushwith surface 56. Said platform 55 serves for accommodating a roller, carriage 57 which carries the cars to be set-down in or fetched from the cells. In place of the carriage 57 a parking system known'per se may be provided. A counterweight 58 is movable in guides 59 and conveniently carries a roller 60 over which is'trainedv a rope 61. The latter at one end, 62, is secured to structure 46 and, at the other end, trained over an idling roller 63 of cabin 48. The respective rope end at 64 is secured to a crossbrace .65 of'the cabin. In accordance with the form of invention shown, two counterweights 58 are provided. As will be noted from the foregoing description, the de flectingor. idling-rollers for the elevating and counterweightwpcs are so disposed as not to project above the cabin .platform.55.. Thecabin has to be secured independentlyon twosides, and such requirement has been met by subdividing the counterweight into two individual weights, whilstone of the elevating ropes is trained below the elevator bed plate 45 on to the same drum 51.

' Bed plate 45 .is provided with bracing means comprising rollers 65 of which each is rotatable about a horizontal axis 66 extending vertically withrespect to the length of theshaft, and r'ollers '67 which serve as lateral supporting rollers-and are supported on the lateral flank of rail 43."

Theroller s 67 are rotatable about vertical axes 68.

For. moving the elevator along shaft 40, an electric motor 69 is mounted on theplatforrn which motor drives the rollers via gear wheels 70 and bevel gears 71. A drive shaft 72 rotatably interconnects the forwardly and rearwardly disposed bevel gear pairs 71. Lateral staying rollers 73 are mounted in bearing brackets 74 of structure 2-6 and are supported on the lateral staying rails 44. l

The elevator structure is of open C-like cross-section. The two counterweights in this case are mounted on the bracing side so as to eliminate the necessity of a special guide structure and, furthermore, to keep constant the value of the chosen tilting moment under different loading conditions.

The last embodiment, shown in Fig. 15, contemplates the arrangement of two elevators in the same shaft, one elevator being associated with one cell front, and the other elevator with the other cell front. Such arrangement affords the possibility that the two elevators may move past each other and thus simultaneously serve both cell tracks. To such end, one of the elevators is given a positive tilting moment, and the other a negative one, and further one elevator is upwardly extended, and the other downwardly. When the two elevator cabins are moved into their extreme positions, one elevator thus may overtake the other. In the example shown, a latticed structure 75 comprises vertical guide rails 76 for a cabin 77' and, at its lower end is braced through a roller 77 from a rail 78 which is disposed in a recess 79 and extends along the entire shaft 80. On the same side with rail 78, a rail 81 is disposed on the upper edge of shaft 80. From rail 81 are supported rollers 82 and 33 which take up the clockwise tilting moment of the structure. A further rail 84 is disposed in vicinity of rail 78, of which the plane of symmetry extends horizontally. On rail 84 are supported rollers 85.

Structure 75 comprises ahead portion 87 which projects above the top edge 86 and in which is accommodated the cabin 77 when structure 75 overtakes the other structure 88. The latter comprises a downward extension 89 which through rollers 96, 91 is supported from a rail 92 which is disposed on the bottom 93 of shaft in a recess 94. The arrangement is such that there is sutficient space for accommodating the cabin 95 associated with structure 38 below structure 75. At its head, structure 88' through a roller 96 is supported from a rail 97. The vertical stay 98 of structure 88 is adapted as guide for cabin 95. In all the forms of invention described, the elevator bears on a single rail which under all circumstances has to be situated outside of the vertical through the center of gravity so as to obtain a tilting moment towards one or the other side. The bracing rollers and rails which take up the tilting moment may be disposed as required. The elevator according to the invention is suited both for i one-sided and two-sided cell tracts and has been illus' trated in particular for use in garages, but may be readily employed for bringing and fetching any other goods to berstored or stocked in corresponding cells or compartments. The invention for example, affords a favorable solution for loading and unloading long store houses, especially when such operations have to be carried out on rails extending along the buildings.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An elevator supporting arrangement for garages and warehouses comprising, in combination, an upright elevator structure having a center of gravity; wheel means secured to the bottom portion of said elevator structure spaced in horizontal direction from a vertical plane passing through said center of gravity, said wheel means including a pair of wheels turnable about a horizontal axis, and at least one wheel turnable about a vertical axis; roller means secured toythe top portion of said elevatorfstructure ,for. turning movement about nonhorizontal axis; an elevator'cabiri mounted on said ele. vator structure for movement in vertical direction; hori-- zontal rail means extending'in one direction and being engaged by said wheel means on the bottom portion of said elevator structure, said rail means being spaced in horizontal direction from, and being located on one side of a vertical plane passing through said center of gravity so that said elevator structure is eccentrically supported whereby said elevator structure tends to tilt about said rail means under the action of the tilting moment produced by gravity; and horizontal elongated guide means extending parallel to said rail means and being located above the same on the other side of said vertical plane, said elongated guide means being engaged by said roller means on the top portion of said elevator structure under the action of the tilting moment and holding said elevator structure in upright position by counteracting the horizontal force produced thereon by said tilting moment, said rail means and said elongated guide means supporting said elevator structure for movement in said direction.

2. A garage construction comprising, in combination, two oppositely arranged garage structures defining an elongated shaft between each other extending in one direction; a foundation structure between said garage structures at the bottom of said shaft; a first and a second upright elevator structure located in said shaft, each elevator structure being located adjacent one of said garage structures and having a center of gravity; elevator cabins respectively mounted on said elevator structures for movement in vertical direction along said garage structures; first and second horizontal rail means supported on said foundation and extending in said one direction along said shaft, said first and second horizontal rail means being respectively engaged by the bottom portions of said first and second elevator structures, said first and second rail means being spaced in horizontal directions in vertical planes passing through the centers of gravity of the associated elevator structures respectively s that each of said elevator structures tends to tilt about tne associated rail means under the action of a tilting moment produced by gravity; first horizontal elongated guide means secured to one of said garage structures and being located on the same side of the vertical plane passing through the center of gravity of said first elevator structure as said first rail means; second horizontal elongated guide means secured to the other of said garage structures and being located on the other side of the I rail means, said first and second elongated guide means I 7 being engaged by the top portions of the associated elevator structures under the action of the respective tilting moments and holding the respective elevator structure in upright position by counteracting the horizontal forcesf produced by said tilting moments, said first rail means and said first elongated means supporting said first elevator structure, and said second rail means and said second guide means supporting said second elevator structure for movement in said direction along said garage structures. 7

3. An arrangement as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first elevator structure projects above the associated garage structure and above said second elevator structure; wherein said second elevator structure extends in downward direction below said first elevator structure; and wherein said second rail means are located below said first rail means spaced from the same in horizontal direction; and wherein said foundation is formed with a a recess for receiving the elevator cabin associated with said second elevator structure in a position located below said first rail means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 423,962 Smith Mar. 25, 1890 548,090 Puffer Oct. 15, 1895 5 649,965 Taylor May 22, 1900 713,843 Bouck Nov. 18, 1902 718,543 Starks Jan. 13, 1903 743,692 Daemicke Nov. 10, 1903 1,288,567 Hall Dec. 24, 1918 1,432,116 Martin Oct. 17, 1922 1,743,397 Rosener Jan. 14, 1930 1,771,695 Tompkins July 29, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS 273,011 Switzerland Apr. 16, 1951 

